{"id":185683,"date":"2025-10-08T14:46:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T14:46:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/185683\/"},"modified":"2025-10-08T14:46:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T14:46:14","slug":"diogo-jota-grief-for-liverpool-players-has-been-honestly-explained-by-ex-player-liverpool-fc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/185683\/","title":{"rendered":"Diogo Jota grief for Liverpool players has been honestly explained by ex-player – Liverpool FC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Man City<\/a> defender Nedum Onuoha has outlined why Liverpool\u2019s players may be struggling with grief after Diogo Jota<\/a>\u2018s death.<\/p>\n

The Portuguese\u2019s tragic passing in July stunned the football world, with many wondering how much it would affect Arne Slot<\/a> and his Reds players.<\/p>\n

Five wins in succession at the start of the Premier League<\/a> season suggested all was well, but three consecutive losses may suggest otherwise, with performances unconvincing since August.<\/p>\n

\u2022 READ: What Virgil van Dijk has actually said about reasons for Liverpool\u2019s \u201ctough season\u201d <\/a><\/p>\n

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live<\/a>, Onuoha discussed his own grief when his mother passed away, being able to relate to what Virgil van Dijk<\/a> and his Liverpool teammates are going through.<\/p>\n

“I didn’t enjoy football as much” ?<\/p>\n

?? @kickback_nedum<\/a> opens up on how grief shaped his career \u2013 and how it could be affecting #LFC<\/a> players#BBCFootball<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/IBe8tW3QYr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) October 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI went through what I went through with my mother passing halfway through my career,\u201d Onuoha said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd to be honest, in the back half of my career, I didn\u2019t enjoy football as much. Some of the highs and lows that come with it, they didn\u2019t really feel the same any more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t as low as I would be if things were going wrong, like relegation and so on, and then promotions didn\u2019t feel the same because I feel like I was missing someone who was sharing it. And that\u2019s somebody outside of the workplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut where I struggled the most was in the quieter times, and those quieter times are when you\u2019re reflecting on things like the games themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor him (Van Dijk), having lost a good friend, you can\u2019t go to the training ground and not feel that.<\/p>\n

\"LIVERPOOL,<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially when Jota might have been somebody that was really positive around people \u2013 maybe the type that people have a routine with together.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe they want to talk to each other after games, maybe talk to each other during games, get hyped up and so on. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe trust they have, the belief they have, the connection that they have during games \u2013 you lose it and things do become difficult. <\/p>\n

\"Captain<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I would say is that in my mind, I thought, if this was happening to me, you would say, \u2018this is going to be a season for him (Jota).\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s the best case scenario when you think this is just the start of the journey, and it ends up being a lot tougher.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll always remember the player because the fans will sing his name in the 20th minute. You\u2019ll also remember the fact that when you get to the training ground, nobody\u2019s going to sit in his locker. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll remember the fact that the number doesn\u2019t exist anymore. You remember the moments in this stadium that he maybe had before.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

This perfectly illustrates what a tough period it is for Liverpool\u2019s players, even though some results may have masked it.<\/p>\n

It is still only three months since Jota\u2019s death, which is no time at all in terms of a grieving process, so it is only natural that certain players will be struggling.<\/p>\n

Everyone handles grief differently, so some may be finding it harder than others, but Liverpool fans must accept the situation, providing fair but reasoned criticism this season.<\/p>\n

Defeats are always frustrating, especially three in a row, but only when the dust fully settles may we realise what a testing period this was for Slot and his squad.<\/p>\n

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